Tape handling mechanism



Mcfi" I7, 1953 w. H. UHL ET AL TAPE HANDLING MECHANISM 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Dec. 2, 1949 INVENTO S H U Z Zuye/aefer ATTORNEYS lwm,

March 17, 1953 w. H. UHL ETAL TAPE HANDLING MECHANISM 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1949 Patented Mar. 17, 1953 TAPE HANDLING MECHANISM William n. Uhl, Pennen, and Edward c. Ziegelhoefer, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Commercial Controls Corporation, Rochester, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1949, Serial No. 130,702

(Cl. lill-227) Claims.

This invention relates to an improved tape handling mechanism for a postage printing machine.

Most modern postage printing machines are capable of printing postage on gummed tape, as well as on cards or envelopes. Thus these machines include mechanism adapted to automatically feed the gumm'ed tape into printing position relative to the printing head of the machine, sever the tape at the proper time, and meisten it or not, as desired. Certain well-known devices of this nature have met with a degree of commercial dissatisfaction by reason of structural complexity, rendering repair diiiicult, uncertain operation under conditions of unusually high humidity, and recurrent tape jams causing loss of postage value, as well as the loss of time necessary to clear the machine. Still others, because of the location of the tape severing mechanism in relation to the nip between the printing head and platen, require operating mechanism' capable of retracting tape after it has been cut off at the finish of the operating cycle and of advancing the tape to proper printing position, but prior to the printing operation at the beginning of the operative cycle. If such retracting and advancing operations are not properly and precisely effected, there is always a chance that the postage Value will be improperly imprinted on the tape. Indeed, sometimes postage is lost through improper advancing of the free end of the tape.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a tape feeding mechanism for a postage printing machine which obviates the foregoing diiiiculties, as well as others, in a thoroughly practical and efficient manner.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, all as will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawing, wherein there is shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the tape feeding mechanism set in operative position,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 1, but showing the mechanism set in inoperative position; and

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the views of the drawing.

In accordance with one form of our invention,

the printing head and platen are rotatably juxtaposed, the platen being carried by pivoted supporting plates spring-biased toward the printing head. A pair of tape feed rollers are rotatably carried by these plates adjacent the platen, and when driven feed the tape through a cut-off device to the nip between the printing head and platen. The platen axle rockably supports a yoke which carries an idler, which is engageable with so as to be driven by the platen. When this yoke is swung toward one of the tape feed rollers, the idler first engages the platen then the roller, and being driven by the platen, drives the roller causing it to feed tape. Movement of the idler into engagement with the platen and the tape feed roller is effected by way of a system of levers operated by a cam' carried by the printing head, and this lever system can be swung between operative and inoperative positions, as it is desired to set the machine. The printing head also carries a settable arm which can be set to trip a trip lever which effects actuation of the cut-01T device whereby long or short strips of tape may be cut olf between successive printing operations. This arm is so mounted on the printing head as to actuate the cut-off device at the proper time, the cut-oir strip of tape being fed by reason of the engagement thereof by the type on the printing head. Thus the mechanism acts in a simple and efficient manner to feed the free end of the tape to proper printing relation in relation to the nip between the printing head and platen, with the proper length of tape being automatically cut orf at the proper time, there being, accordingly, no necessity to retract the tape subsequent to either the printing operation or the cut-off operation. At the exit end of the nip between the printing head and platen is a delector or guide which, when the machine is set for tape printing, is moved into proper position to guide the tape to a moistening device (not shown), but which is removed from the path of envelope travel when the machine is set to print on envelopes.

Referring now to FigureA 1, most of the structural elements constituting the tape feed mechanism are supported by a pair of parallel plates, one of which is shown at lil in Figure 1, and the other of which is shown at ll in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 1, these plates constitute a carriage, generally indicated at C, which is pivotally supported on a shaft l2 supported by suitable framework (not shown). This carriage also carries another shaft or stud I3 to which is fastened a bracket I4, mounted on the upper end of a rod I5, secured to the base plate it of the machine.

A spring Il interposed between base plate I6 and the bottom of bracket I4 constantly biases the carriage upwardly toward a printing head I8. This printing head is carried by a shaft i5, which is rotatably mounted in conventional manner in the machine frame (not shown) Carriage C rotatably supports a platen 26 which is mounted on a shaft 2|, journaled in the carriage side plates. This shaft is adapted to be constantly rotated when the machine is in operation, by any suitable driving mechanism (not shown). As the platen is carried by the carriage C, it is `accord.- ingly movable therewith toward and away from printing head I8 in order to accommodate pieces of mail matter of various thickness passing through .the nip `and between the printing head and platen. In the upper left-hand portion of carriage C is rotatably mounted a guide roller 22 which coacts with a pressure roller 23 to feed envelopes or cards toward the printing head and platen over a trip iarm 24. As these devices are of conventional nature, it will sufce to point out that when a card or envelope is thus fed through these rollers 22 and 23, trip arm 24 is depressed to actuate the driving mechanism (not shown) which actuates printing head I 6. Thus actuated, the printing head rotates through one revolution and prints postage value on the envelope.

The invention herein is concerned with the tape handling mechanism which will now be described. A stub 25 is supported on the machine frame, and this stub rockably mounts a tape feed mechanism positioning arm 25. The lower end of this arm is slotted as at 2l to receive a pin 23 carried by a manually operable lever 29 fastened to la shaft 36 rotatably mounted in any suitable manner in the machine frame. The upper end of a spring 3l is fastened to the pin 28, the lower end of this spring being anchored by a pin 32. When it is desired to print postage value on tape, lever 26 is in its Figure 1 position. When the machine is set for printing on envelopes or cards, this lever is rocked to its Figure 2 position, spring 3l being so arranged in relation to the lever that the lever is releasably held in either of its set positions. With lever 29 in its Figure l position, arm 26 is in a substantially vertical attitude. On the upper end of arm 26 is pivotally mounted a bell crank lever, generally indicated at 33, one

arm 34 of which carries a roller 35, the other arm 36 of which is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link 3l. Roller 35 is adapted to coact with a cam 33 secured to and accordingly rotatable with printing head I 8.

The lower end of link 3l is pivotally connected to a lever 39, fastened to a shaft 46 rotatably mounted in any suitable manner in the machine frame. This shaft 46 also has secured thereto yan arm 4l provided with a cam surface 42. It may now be seen that when printing head I8 rotates counterclockwise, the cam 3S carried thereby moves from its initial or broken line position to and through the position shown by the dotdash line. In so doing, surface 35a of the cam contacts roller 35 on bell crank 33, thus to rock the bell crank counterclockwise. This movement of the bell crank forces link 3'? downwardly and accordingly through the lever 39 and shaft 40 rocks arm 4I and its cam 42 counterclockwise. After the printing head i8 has rotated sufriciently, its cam 38 rides past roller 35, permitting a spring 43 to rock bell crank 33 clockwise to its solid line or rest position, which movement, of course, restores arm 4I and its cam 42 to the position shown in Figure 1. This clockwise re- 4 turn movement of bell crank 33 is limited by a stop 44.

It is the cam 42 on arm 4I that effects the operation 0f a pair of tape feed rollers 45 and 46. These rollers are respectively mounted on shafts 47 and 45, journaled in the side plates of carriage C, the shafts carrying respectively gears 45 and 56, which are in constant mesh. Thus, as roller 46 is driven in a manner to be described, roller 45 is also driven by way of the gears 49 and 56. These tape feed rollers 45 and 46 are located at opposite sides and near the upper end of a tape chute generally indicated at 5I, this chute being formed by an upper plate 52 and a lower plate 53. The lower end of chute 5l lies adjacent a tape supply housing 54, within which is adapted to be disposed a roll of tape 55.

Cin platen shaft 2 I is rockably mounted a cradle, generally indicated at 56 (see Figure 3). This cradle comprises a pair of arms 5l and 58, which are loosely mounted at one end on platen Shaft 2l thus the cradle arms straddle platen 26. Near the free end of each of these arms is a slot, such as slot 553 in arm 56 (see Figure 2). As shown in Figure 3, these slots receive the ends of a shaft 50, this shaft carrying an idler roller 6I. The ends of shaft 56 project respectively through vertical slots Illa formed in plates I0 and II. Near each end of the shaft and adjacent arms 5l and 58 are a pair of plates 62 and 63, to which are respectively fastened one end of 'springs 64 and 65, the other ends of these springs being suitably anchored to arms 5l and 58, respectively. Thus, by virtue of the slotted mounting of the ends of shaft 6D and the tension of springs 64 and 65, idler roller 6I is cainmed into engagement with platen 2i) by slots Ia during initial upward movement of cradle 56. The platen is, of course, preferably rubber surfaced, and so is idler 6I, so there is a good driving connection therebetween.

Still referring to Figure 3, it may be seen that the left-hand ends of arms 5l and 58 have secured thereto a follower 66 and a rod 6l, the former of which is adapted to coact with arm cam 42 (Figure 1) and the latter of which is adapted -to receive a shoe 58 formed on the lower end of rod 69, the upper end of which extends slidably through a stationary lug or the like 10. A spring 'II is interposed between strap 'l and -cradle 56, and this spring constantly biases the cradle downwardly maintaining its follower 66 in engagement with arm cam 42.

It will now appear that when arm 4| and its cam 42 are rocked counterclockwise in the manner hereinbefore described, cam 42, bearing against follower 56, forces cradle 56 clockwise against the pressure of spring li and accordingly lifts idler roller 5I from its solid to its dotted line position shown in Figure 1, nrst into engagement with platen 2E) and then with tape feed roller 45. The idler, being in contact and accordingly driven by platen 25, thus acts to rotate tape feed roller 45 and accordingly tape feed roller 45 through the gears 45 and 56. As these tape feed rollers rotate, they feed tape toward the nip N between the printing head I8 and platen 26.

The tape feed rollers continue to feed tape as long as they are driven by idler 6I, and idler 6I remains in its driving position as long as bell crank roller 35 is engaged by printing head cam 38. When this cam rides off the roller, the bell crank 33 and parts connected thereto return to the solid line position (Figure 1, thus permitting cradle 56 to drop down to its solid line position, disengaging idler 6I 'from tape feed roller 4S and y,platen 20, thus discontinuing the feeding action Vso that when the type face on the printing head cornes around, it will engage the tape, and during the printing operation continue the feeding of the tape between the printing head and platen.

It is, of course, desirable to sever the printed end of the tape at the-end of each cycle of operation. We have accordingly provided a settable device whereby separate successive cut-off strips may be delivered. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, printing head I8 carries a trip arm 12 which is pivotally fastened to one side of the printing head, as by a pin 18. This trip arm 12 is pivotable between its Figure 1 and Figure 2 positions. When in the Figure l position it is operative to actuate the tape cut-off mechanism so that the machine will deliver relatively short individual strips of tape; when this arm is in its Figure 2 position, wherein its leading end 12a is flush with, and its trailing end 12b projects from the periphery of the printing head, the tape cut-off device will operate later, and the machine Will accordingly deliver a longer strip on which an advertising slogan or the like may be printed.

This trip `arm 12 effects the operation of a tape severing device, generally indicated at 14 (Figure l), in a manner that will now be described. The tape severing device includes a knife 15 fastened to an arm 16 pivotally attached to `carriage side plates I6 and II. The left end of arm 16 is pivotally connected to carriage side plates I6 and I I. The left end of arm 'I6 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a link 11, the lower end of which is slotted as at 18 to receive a pin 19 carried by the free end of a lever 80 fastened to shaft 48.

- When the severing device 14 is in operative position, i. e., the Figure l position, its right-hand end is supported by the tip 8| of a trigger lever 82. This lever is pivotally fastened to side plate 1 I0 as by a pin 83, and is under .a constant counterclockwise bias by reason of asp ring 84, one end of which is fastened to side plate I0, and the other end of which is fastened to an upstanding arm 85 of the trigger lever. The lower end of the trigger lever terminates in an arm 86. It should be noted that arm 16 of the severing device is under a constant clockwise bias by reason of a spring 81, one end of which is fastened to arm 16,

and the other end of which is anchored in any convenient manner.

In operation, and with the parts set as shown in Figure 1, the tape feed rollers 45 and 46 go out of operation before end 12a of trip arm 12 engages trigger arm 85, as printing head cam 38 has ridden past roller 35. Subsequently, trigger arm 85 is engaged by trip arm 12, forcing trigger lever 82 clockwise and pulling its tip 8l from beneath the spring-biased arm 16. The arm accordingly is snapped clockwise so that knife 15 suddenly severs the tape at the upper end of ating to eject the severed piece of tape either into a suitable moistened tape is desired, or

receptacle (not shown), if uninto a moistening device (not shown), if moistened tape is desired.

When the knife arm 16 snaps over as described, it moves to the position shown in Figure 2, so that at such time pin 18 of lever 88 is in the lower end of slot 18 of link 11. Thus it follows that when bell crank 33 is rocked by printing head cam 38 in the manner hereinbefore described, lever 86 rotates counterclockwise with shaft 40, and in so doing pulls link 11 downwardly thus rocking knife arm 16 counterclockwise. As the right-hand end of the arm, as shown in Figure 1, rises, it ultimately engages beneath trigger tip 8|, continued movement of the arm forcing the trigger lever clockwise until the arm rides past and above the tip, permitting spring 84 to pull the trigger lever counterclockwise so that the tip rides under the right-hand end of arm 16, thus to hold the knife arm in operative position. This restoring movement of the knife arm 16 occurs beforeidler 6I engages tape feed roller 46, so that the upper end of the tape chute is opened to permit the feeding movement of the leading end of the tape when idler 6I ultimately engages feed roller 46. It will accordingly appear that through a simple mechanism controlled directly by cam 38 on printing head I8, the tape severing device is conditioned for operation, and thereafter the leading end of the tape is fed into proper printing position at the nip end between the printing head and platen. At the proper time during the printing operation, the tape severing device is actuated as hereinbefore described, so that the proper length of tape is cut off, this cut-off strip thence being fed to the deector 88 and ultimately ejected. Thus, at the end of the operative cycle, there is no need to retract the tape preparato-ry to the next cycle of operation.

When trip arm 12 is set in its Figure l position, i. e. that position wherein its end 12a is effective to actuate trigger lever 82, the cut-off strip of tape is relatively short. Many users of machines of this type, however, like to print on the strip an advertising slogan or the like, thus necessitating a longer strip. Under such circumstances, the arm 12 is set in the position shown in Figure 2, wherein its end 12a is ush with the periphery of printing head I3, whereas its end 12b projects therefrom, thus enabling this end 12b to engage arm 85 of trigger lever 82. This engagement, however, occurs at a later time than the engagement between end 12a and arm 85 would occur, and accordingly the printing head and platen are enabled to continue to feed tape a longer period of time. This, of course, results in a longer strip.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the manually operable lever 29 is settable between its Figure l and Figure 2 positions, depending on Whether it is desired to print postage value on tape or on envelopes. When envelopes are to be fed into the machine, this lever 23 is shifted to its Figure 2 position. In so doing, arm 26 is rocked counterclockwise, and this moves bell crank 33 and accordingly its cam follower roller 35 to the left so that the roller is shifted out of the path of movement of printing head cam 38. Accordingly, when the printing head rotates, the cam will not contact roller 35, and the tape handling mechanism will not be actuated. Also, when lever 29 is shifted to envelope printing position, a pin 98, carried by an arm 9i, fastened to shaft 30, engages arm 86 of trigger lever 82, shifting the trigger lever clockwise, to remove its trigger arm 85 to the right of and somewhat below nip N,

thus removing the trigger arm from the path of travel of cards or envelopes passingthrough the machine.

This movement of lever 2S to envelope printing position also aiects tape guide or deector 88. As shown in Figure 1, deector 8S carries a small pin c2 engageable by the upper end of a slidable bar 93, slidably mounted on pins '34 carried by side plate il. rEhe lower end oi this bar is widened at 93a and rests on a pin 55S carried by an arm 9i? fastened to shaft 3Q. Thus when lever 2b is in its tape printing position, pin 85 forces bar slt upwardly and accordingly pivots deilector 3% clockwise into its tape deflecting position, as shown in Figure l. When, however, lever 2e is swung to its letter printing position, as shown in Figure 2, pin 95 rides from beneath foot ia of bar dit, permitting the bar to drop and the deflector 83 to rock countercloclrwise, which lowers its upper end out of the path of travel of the envelopes as they pass through the nip N. Thus it follows that lever arm 29, when moved to its Figure l or tape printing position, conditions the tape feed roller actuating mechanism for operation, moves the trigger' lever 82 into operative position where it can control kniie arm "It, and elevates bar Q3 to rock the tape deector 8B into its operative position.

Thus it may be seen that we have provided a ltape handling mechanism which attains the several objects set forth hereinabove in a thoroughly practical and eiiicient manner.

We claim:

1. In a tape feeding mechanism for a postage printing machine capable or" printing postage on envelopes or tape, the vcombination oi", a frame, a platen rotatably mounted on said ira-me and adapted to rotate constantly while the machine is in operation, a printing head adapted to rotate cyclically, means forming a tape feed device mounted on said frame adjacent said printing head and platen and adapted when actuated to feed tape toward the nip between said printing head and platen, a driving member movably supported on said trarne for movement into engagement with said platen so as to be driven thereby, i ieans operable to move said driving member into engagement with said platen, and actuating means operatively associated with said printing head and with said driving member and actuated by said printing head during its cycle of operation to move said driving member into driving relation with said tape feed device, whereby said tape feed device is actuated to leed tape.

2. In a tape feeding mechanism ior a `pcs-tage printing machine capable of printing postage von envelopes er tape, the combination of, a frame, a platen rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to rotate constantly while the machine is in operation, a rotatable printing head operatively mounted in said machine in printing registry with said platen, means forming a tape feed device mounted on said frame adpjacent said printing head and platen and adapted when actuated to feed tape, toward the nip between said printing head and platen, a driving member movably supported on said Virame for movement into engagement with said platen so as to be driven thereby, means operable to move said driving member into engagement with said platen, a driving element carried by said printing head and rotatable therewith, and a driven system operatively associated with said driving element and said driving member and actuatable by said driving element during a portion of each revolution of said printing head to move said driving member into driving relation 'with said tape feed device, whereby said tape feed. device is actuated to feed tape.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said driving element comprises a cam and said driven system comprises a series of interconnected levers, one of vsaid levers being periodically engageable by said cam, whereby all of the levers are driven, another of said levers being operatively associated With said driving member.

e. Apparatus according to claim l, wherein said driving member comprises a roller, means including an arm for supporting said roller, and spring means operatively associated with said roller for biasing it toward said platen said tape feed device including a roller engageable by said driving roller tol be driven thereby.

5. Apparatus according to claim l, wherein means are provided to move said actuating means between operative and inoperative positions depending on whether the machine is set to print postage on tape or envelopes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tape feed device comprises a pair of rollers positioned and adapted to engage opposite sides of the tape.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tape feed device comprises .a pair of rollers positioned and adapted to engage opposite sides of the tape, and gear means interconnecting said rollers.

Apparatus according to claim l, wherein there is provided tape derlecting means mounted on said frame on the opposite side of said nip from said tape feed device, and means for shifting said tape deflecting means between operative and inoperative positions depending on whether said machine is set for printing postage on tape or envelopes.

9. In a tape feeding mechanism for a postage printing machine capable of printing postage on envelopes or tape, the combination of, a frame, a platen rotatably mounted on said frame and adapted to rotate constantly while the machine is in operation, a printing head adapted to rotate cyclically, means forming a tape feed device mounted on said frame adjacent said printing head and platen and adapted when actuated to feed tape toward the nip between said printing head and platen, a driving member movably supported on said frame for movement into engagement with said platen so as to be driven thereby, means operable to move said driving member into engagement with said platen, actuating means operatively associated with said printing head and with said driving member and actuated by said printing head during its cycle or" operation to move said driving Vrnenfiber into driving relation with said tape Vfeed device, whereby said tape feed device is actuated to feed tape, a tape cutting device mounted on sai-d frame between said tape feed device and said nip, means associated with said printing head, and means actuated by Ysaid last-mentioned means upon rotation of said printing head to actuate said tape cutting device whereby said tape cutting device is actuated once per revolution of said printing head.

l0. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tape feed device includes a driven roller, and said' driving member comprises a roller.

l1. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said next to last-mentioned means comprises a settable member mounted on'said printing head and settable to be effective at one or the other of two circumferentially spaced positions on said printing head, one of which effects cutting off of a relative short strip of tape and the other of which effects cutting oi of a longer strip of tape.

12. In a tape feeding mechanism for a postage printing machine capable of printing postage on envelopes or tape, the combination of, a frame, a rotatable platen mounted on said frame, a cyclically rotatable printing head adjacent said platen, a tape feeding device mounted on said frame adjacent said printing head and platen and including a feed roller actuatable to effect tape feeding by said device toward the nip between said printing head and platen, a driving member movably mounted on said frame adapted to be driven by said platen and engageable with said feed roller to drive said roller, and actuatable means operatively associated with said printing head and with said driving member and actuated during the cycle of operation of said printing head to effect driving engagement between said driving member and said feed roller whereby said feed roller is driven through said driving member by said platen and tape is fed by said tape feeding device.

13. In a tape feeding mechanism for a postage printing mechine capable of printing postage on envelopes or tape, the combination of, a cyclically rotatable printing head having a driving element thereon, a driven system including a member engageable by said driving element whereby said driven system is periodically actuated by said printing head, a rotatable platen adjacent said printing head and engageable therewith during the cyclic rotation thereof, a driven tape feeding device adjacent the nip between said printing head and platen, a movable drive transfer mechanism operatively associated with said platen so as to be driven thereby and movable into and out of driving relation with said tape feed device, and means connecting said drive transfer mechanism to said driven system and responsive to actuation of said driven system by said printing head driving element to move said drive transfer mechanism into engagement with and accordingly drive said tape feeding device.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including means connected to a portion of said driven system and selectively manually operable to set said system into operative or inoperative condition.

15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein a spring-loaded tape cut-off device is provided, a trigger operatively associated with said cut-off device to hold said device in its spring-loaded position, and means on said printing head for moving said trigger to trip said tape cutting device.

WILLIAM H. UHL. EDWARD G. ZIEGELI-IOEFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,235,130 Webb Mar. 18, 1941 2,273,309 Thatcher et al. Feb. 17, 1942 2,456,414 Heyel Dec. 14, 1948 2,475,804 Rouan et al. July 12, 1949 

